Hays quote about the system is important and why Bielsa might be ok with Jansson leaving and not feel the need to replace and actually why he might be happier with White. Jansson is the better defender but White is the better ball player and he doesn’t want defenders to defend. He wants the attackers to start the defending, Then the midfield and then the DM who might have dropped back into defence to cover left and right backs going into attack. If these fail then finally the defenders to be last ditch (well in our case they are last ditch after Kiko has come out ahead of them...) But he wants the defence to start the attack. Look at how many goals started with tight passing around the defenders and then suddenly creating space elsewhere. Which is why he likes DMs as CB’s as their passing is more important to his tactics then defending.
Pontus brother Peter has messaged a Leeds fan and basically said this: 3 weeks ago Pontus was told to find another club as Bielsa didn't want him back. We didnt have enough time to find the PL club we wanted so had to include CS clubs in our search as wanted to stay in England. A manager who was exited to have Pontus convinced us to go there. Not a big famous club like Leeds but an ambitious club Check the conversation yourself if you have twitter, Peter Jannson So whatever happens its game over for Pontus but we still got rid of 3 CBs besides Pontus whilst we knew we were binning him?very strange
If we lose Roofe and or Phillips as well I’ll go from ecstatic in signing Costa last week to believing a long hard season is ahead. If we start off poor and leak goals you know fans will be saying we’re missing Pontus so a very ballsy move by Bielsa but..... I wanted Bielsa calling the shots not Orta so we’ve got to respect the board giving him the freedom he wanted. The sale of Pontus must have been discussed with the board when Bielsa had his “here is what I want if you wish me to stay” meeting. We have to give some credit to Rads and Orta in putting total faith in Bielsa
You do realise, of course, and I'm absolutely sure Pontus realises, that they can say anything they like, safe in the knowledge that an honourable man like Bielsa will not discuss it in public, no matter how much it may appear to damage him. It's unfair to only listen to one side of the story, but Pontus realises that a large segment of Leeds fans will pounce on whatever he says as being fact, and it will never be contradicted (or acknowledged) by Bielsa. Bielsa is a logical man, and this situation, with the release of so many CBs weakening us, is not logical.
What that says to me is, no PL team wanted him, they've had 3 weeks and have another 3 before the window closes, so why weren't Villa, Sheff Utd and Soton knocking the door down as they're all supposed to be big admirers. As a player, you'd think any mid to low prem team would want him, football is a small world and things get spread pretty quickly, I believe they didn't want him for reasons other than ability, otherwise he'd be snapped up, especially at that price.
